Geranium plant named `HWD Fuega`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named HWD Fuega, characterized by its semi-double rubine red flowers; large umbels; large flowers; compact plant size; dark green leaves; and early flowering.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, known as the varietyDuefue, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name HWD Fuega.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop a new dark-green foliage geranium with a uniquepurple red flower color.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of thenonpatented cultivar Monteverdi as the male or pollen parent with thepatented cultivar Fiswig (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,385) as the female orseed parent.

The cultivar HWD Fuega was discovered and selected by the inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany. Asexual reproduction of the newcultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Rheinberg, Germany, has shownthat the unique features of this new Geranium are stabilized andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of HWD Fuega. These characteristics incombination distinguish HWD Feuga as a new and distinct cultivar: 1.Semi-double rubine red flowers.

2. Large umbels.

3. Long peduncles.

4. Large flowers.

5. Compact plant size.

6. Dark green leaves.

7. Early flowering.

In comparison to the parent cultivar Monteverdi, plants of the newGeranium have semi-double flowers, dark green leaves, compact planthabit and flower earlier. In comparison to the parent cultivar Fiswig,plants of the new Geranium have rubine red (not carmine red) petalcolor, semi-double (not single) flowers, larger umbels, and flowerearlier.

The new Geranium is similar in petal color to the patented cultivarDesigner Rose (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,524) and the cultivars HWD Violettaand HWD Sorpresa (disclosed in the inventor's pending applications). Incomparison to the cultivar Designer Rose, plants of the new Geraniumhave larger umbels, longer peduncles, more umbels per plant, largerflowers, and darker green foliage. In comparison to the cultivar HWDVioletta and HWD Sorpresa, plants of the new Geranium are more freelybranching, more compact, and have larger umbels. Additionally, comparedto HWD Violetta, plants of the new Geranium have smaller leaves, darkerleaf color, larger flowers, and flower color is more red.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproduction of this type. Flower colorappears more red than the actual flower color due to light reflectance.The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical pottedplant of HWD Fuega with one plant in a 10-cm container.

The cultivar HWD Fuega has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Rheinberg,Germany, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse withday temperatures of 24° C. and night temperatures of 18° to 20° C. andlight levels of 45,000 to 60,000 lux. Plants were grown in 10-cm potswith one plant per pot.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium×hortorum.

Commercial.--Zonal Geranium.

Cultivar.--`HWD Fuega`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Nonpatented cultivar Monteverdi.

Female parent.--Cultivar Fiswag (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,385).

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: 27° C., 21 days; winter: 20° C., 28days.

Plant Description:

General appearance.--Rounded; compact plant size; upright; freelybranching.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Generally alternate. Shape: Orbicularwith rounded tip and cordate base. Size: Length: 6.5 to 7.5 cm. Width:7.5 to 8.5 cm. Texture: Velvety; pubescent on upper and under surfaces.Margin: Crenate. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 147A. Youngfoliage, under surface: 147B Mature foliage, upper surface: Darker than147A/139A. Mature foliage, under surface: 147A. Zone, upper surface:None. Zone, under surface: None. Veins upper surface; 146D, notprominent. Veins, under surface: 147C. Venation pattern; Palmate.Petiole: Length: 8 to 10 cm. Diameter: 2.5 to 3.5 mm.

Stem description.--Internode length: 1 to 1.5 cm.

Lateral branch number: 10 to 12. Lateral branch length: 6 to 8 cm.

Flowering Description

Flowering habit.--Freely flowering. Flowers arranged in umbels

Natural flowering season.--Year-round.

Flowers borne.--Flower buds develop in apical leaf axils. Umbels aredisplayed above the foliage.

Quantity of inflorescences.--Very floriferous; usually 8 open umbels andat least 7 developing umbels per plant at one time.

Umbels.--Form: Rounded. Diameter: 14 cm. Depth (height): 10 cm.

Flowers.--Form: Semi-double. Shape: Rounded. Quantity of flowers perumbel: 22. Diameter: 5 to 5.8 cm. Depth (height): 2 cm.

Petals.--Shape: Obovate with rounded tip. Arrangement: Rosette,overlapping. Quantity: 6 to 7. Aspect: Flat. Size: Length: 2.5 to 3 cm.Width: 2.1 to 2.5 cm. Texture: Satiny, smooth. Margin: Entire. Color:When opening, upper surface: 57A. When opening, under surface: 57A.Upper surface: More red than 57A. Under surface: 50A. Fading to, uppersurface: 40D. Fading to, under surface: No fading observed.

Petaloids.--Shape: Irregular, generally obovate with rounded or cleftedtip. Arrangement: Rosette, overlapping. Quantity: 3 to 5. Size: Length:1.4 to 2.5 cm. Width: 0.5 to 1.5 cm. Texture: Satiny, smooth. Margin:Generally entire. Color: When opening, upper surface: 57A. When opening,under surface: 50A. Upper surface: More red than 57A. Under surface:50A. Fading to, upper surface: 40D. Fading to, under surface: No fadingobserved.

Peduncle (umbel stem).--Angle: Erect, rigid. Length: 15 cm. Pubescence:Very fine, sparse. Color: 146C.

Pedicel (individual flower stem).--Angle: Erect, rigid. Length: 3 to 3.5cm. Pubescence: Very fine. Color: 53A near sepals, gradually fading to175A with hints of 147A at peduncle.

Flower bud.--Shape: Ovoid. Length: 1.3 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: 8 to 10 mm.Color: 43A/44A.

Sepals.--Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity: 5. Size: Length: 1 to 1.2 cm.Width: 4 to 5 mm. Shape: Acuminate with apiculate tip. Texture: Velvety.Margine: Entire. Color: Upper surface: 153A at base fading to 144A attip. Under surface: 183B at base fading to 144A at tip.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: 12. Anther size: 2 mm.Anther color: 61A. Pollen color: 32A. Gynoecium: Pistil number: 1.Pistil length: 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color: 61B. Stylelength: 6 mm. Style color: 61B.

Ploidy level.--Tetraploid.

Disease resistance: No fungal, bacterial nor viral problems observed.

Seed development: Seed production is very rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant namedHWD Fuega, as illustrated and described.